ASeptember 07 1938
The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, September 07, 1938
William H. Steckel Wins Central State Chess Crown
William H. Steckel, Allentown's foremost chess player, added additional laurels to his crown early Tuesday morning when he captured the Central Pennsylvania Chess championship in the final games of the three-day annual competition in Reading.
Mr. Steckel thus claimed his fourth title in the Central Pennsylvania chess tournaments, having also won the championship in 1932, 1933 and 1935. In addition he was Pennsylvania champion in 1936.
Fully recovered from an illness which had prevented him from playing at his best for the past six months, the Allentonian led the field of 16 competitors throughout the grueling three days of match play. The final game was completed at 1:30 o'clock Tuesday morning.
Second place winner was Herman Hesse of Bethlehem who was the Central Pennsylvania champion in 1937. Other places were won by representatives from Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, West Chester, York, Reading, Catasauqua and Fullerton.
In addition to the championship, Allentown was also honored when Clarence Ziegler of this city was reelected president of the Central Pennsylvania district. Other officers are: Ralph Kneerman, Reading, vice president, and William Hart, York, secretary and treasurer.
Following Steckel and Hesse the other competitors finished as follows: August Towsen, Harrisburg, third: Milton Paul, Harrisburg, 4th; Ralph Kneerman, Reading, 5th: Edward Gillette, Bethlehem, 6th; Fred Arnold, West Chester, 7th; William Hart, York, 8th; Robert Gabriel, Reading, 9th.
Thomas Gutekunst, Catasauqua, 10th; John Rehr, Reading, 11th; Antonio DeCamillo, Philadelphia, 12th; Michael Yatron, Reading, 13th; James Cotton, Pittsburgh, 14th; Edwin Faust, Fullerton, 15th, and James Dowers, Reading, 16th.
